Elevated Concerts Serving Chicagoland Since 1998

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 16, 2005 6:18PM

Clear Channel Communications in a move to have more Chicago street cred has renamed their music operations here to Elevated Concerts. Apparently sick and tired of defending their strong arm tactics and monopolistic-like buyouts during the '90s, Clear Channel is trying to get in our good graces by changing their name, not by changing their practices. Chicagoist finds this akin to a murderer changing his name in order to continue killing while on the lam, but that's just us.

Clear Channel executives blame competition with Jam for driving up ticket prices. We find it hysterical that a huge media conglomerate that got that way through the free-market capitalist economy would blame that very economy for their woes. Meanwhile, Jam Productions' take on the new name is quite scathing:

"The last time I checked, there was only one concert promotion company with a rich heritage and an enduring reputation in Chicago, and that company was Jam," said Jam Productions talent buyer Andy Cirzan. Added Jam co-founder Jerry Mickelson: "I wonder if the new concert company was aptly named due to 'Elevated Ticket Prices'?"

Clear Channel haters can continue to boycott Elevated Concert's shows, but that can be difficult to do since they operate many of the major venues in Chicago such as: the Allstate Arena, the Tweeter Center, Rosemont Theatre, and Charter One Pavilion. According to the small print at the bottom of Elevated's website they've been around for some time now, "Elevated Concerts and its team of Chicago-based employees have promoted hundreds of musical, theatrical and family events since 1998. Some of the biggest musical acts in the world have entrusted their performances to the Chicago office including Madonna, U2, The Rolling Stones, Metallica and Jimmy Buffett." Remember the big corporation said it - so it has to be true.

Image via www.robrogers.com